It is a sad, but undeniable fact that injury is an occupational hazard for a professional rugby player. The level of constant physical contact means that injuries are inevitable, at all levels.
Many of these incidents will be relatively minor, and straightforward treatment will mean you can be back on the pitch within a week or so, or even without missing a match.
However, some injuries will be more serious. This can easily result in long periods of recovery, and then rehabilitation until you are back to full match fitness.
A private medical insurance (PMI) arrangement can help to speed up the treatment process and avoid unnecessary delays before you are back on the pitch.
NHS waiting lists mean long delays for many treatments
During your rugby career, you will want to maximise both your playing achievements and your earnings capability, while minimising the amount of time you are unable to play through injury.
This means you will aim to avoid delays in treatment when you are injured, and may need access to specialist medical care.
While the NHS will always provide you with immediate emergency treatment (after an often significant wait in your local Accident and Emergency ward), any specialist or longer-term treatment could mean you taking your place on a very large waiting list.
Furthermore, once you have been treated any post-operative rehabilitation will often be very limited.
You may get some private healthcare coverage through your club, but this may not be fully comprehensive and could still result in delays in you getting the treatment you need.
This is why having PMI in place can be highly advantageous.
Here are four excellent benefits you can enjoy with PMI.
1. You will have prompt access to top-class healthcare services
Because private healthcare operates separately from the NHS, you are not subject to waiting lists or delays in treatment.
You will get the peace of mind that comes from a prompt assessment of the injury and the treatment required. This is usually provided through state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, and specialists who are used to dealing with sporting injuries.
You will then be treated without delay, and enjoy high-quality physiotherapy and rehabilitation to get you up and about and back on the pitch again as quickly as possible.
2. You get to choose where you will be treated
A big advantage of PMI is that it provides you with valuable flexibility when it comes to deciding where you want to be treated.
You can select a hospital with a convenient location, close to either your home or club ground.
You will also enjoy the facilities that private hospitals offer such as individual en-suite rooms, quality food, and post-operative care.
All of this will give you an optimal treatment and recovery experience.
3. You can schedule your treatment around other commitments
As well as where you are treated, private healthcare can also give you flexibility over when your treatment will take place.
This starts with your initial diagnostic consultations, right through your entire treatment journey, including any post-operative physiotherapy.
This means you will not need to interrupt your domestic and club commitments, and can instead select times to suit you, keeping any calendar disruption to a minimum.
You can also opt to have any non-urgent, or non-rugby-related treatment carried out in the off-season.
4. You can also ensure your loved ones are covered
PMI does not just pay for treatment for your rugby-related injuries, as you can also cover yourself for other illnesses and physical ailments.
Furthermore, many PMI providers will give you the option to extend cover to your spouse or partner, and children.
This gives you valuable peace of mind as you know your loved ones will enjoy the same comprehensive medical care that you will.
Self-funding your treatment can involve substantial costs
When you are thinking about PMI, and weighing up the costs and benefits, it is important to be aware of the cost if you decided to choose to pay for treatment yourself.
These expenses could be substantial.
For example, Circle Health Group quotes the cost of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a meniscal repair to be £10,305. This price does not include the original diagnostics and post-operative rehab.
Likewise, Fortius Clinic suggest the cost of Achilles tendon treatment would be £5,380 and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair would set you back £6,455. Again, these figures only cover the operation itself.
You should note that those figures are illustrative (as of August 2025), but they do give an idea of the costs involved in self-funding your medical treatment.
Private healthcare facilities can help drive a quick recovery
It is inevitable that the physical nature of professional rugby could affect your ability to perform at your best, and any serious injuries could hamper your career progression if not treated promptly and effectively.
Because of this, and the potentially lengthy waiting times you will likely experience through the NHS, having a comprehensive PMI plan could almost be seen as being essential to helping you maintain full fitness and the ability to perform at the highest level.
You should also ensure your family is protected in the event of you suffering other health issues
At the same time as you are considering PMI, it is also worth thinking about other options for protecting yourself and your family in the event of any long-term health issues.
These include:
- A critical illness plan to provide a lump sum payment in the event of you incurring a serious illness such as cancer or a stroke
- Income protection to maintain a regular income if you are unable to work for an extended period of time
- An emergency fund to cover unexpected financial commitments without having to resort to expensive borrowing.
You should also review your life insurance arrangements so that in the event of the very worst happening, you know that your family will have no financial concerns.
Get in touch
We can help you source the most appropriate PMI, and rebate the fees back to you.
Email enquiries@dbl-am.com or call 01625 529 499 to speak to us today.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
Note that financial protection plans typically have no cash in value at any time and cover will cease at the end of the term. If premiums stop, then cover will lapse.
Cover is subject to terms and conditions and may have exclusions. Definitions of illnesses vary from product provider and will be explained within the policy documentation.